Silica-reinforced rubber compounded with an alkoxysilane and a strong organic base

ABSTRACT

Improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties of silica-reinforced sulfur vulcanized rubbers can be achieved by compounding elastomers with silica in the presence of an alkoxysilane and a catalytic amount of a strong organic base. The strong organic base acts as a catalyst to accelerate the alkoxysilane-silica reaction, especially at high compounding temperatures, resulting in rubber compounds that exhibit reduced compound viscosity, improved dispersion of silica, and reduced filler flocculation after compounding, and reduced hysteresis and improved abrasion resistance in the vulcanized product, compared to similar compounds prepared at the temperature without the strong organic base catalyst.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to vulcanizable elastomeric compounds containing silica as a reinforcing filler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When producing elastomeric compositions for use in rubber articles, such as tires, power belts, and the like, it is desirable that these elastomeric compositions are easily processable during compounding and have a high molecular weight with a controlled molecular weight distribution, glass transition temperature (T_(g)) and vinyl content. It is also desirable that reinforcing fillers, such as silica and/or carbon black, be well dispersed throughout the rubber in order to improve various physical properties, such as the compound Mooney viscosity, elastic modulus, tangent delta (tan δ), and the like. Rubber articles, especially tires, produced from vulcanized elastomers exhibiting these improved properties will have reduced hysteresis, better rolling resistance, snow and ice traction, wet traction, and improved fuel economy for vehicles equipped with such tires.

With the increasing use of silica as a reinforcing filler for rubber, filler dispersion in rubber stocks has become a major concern. Because polar silanol groups on the surface of silica particles tend to self-associate, reagglomeration of silica particles can occur after compounding, leading to poor silica dispersion and a high compound viscosity. The strong silica filler network results in a rigid uncured compound that is difficult to process in extrusion and forming operations. Previous attempts at preparing readily processable, vulcanizable silica-filled rubber stocks containing natural rubber or diene polymer and copolymer elastomers have focused on the use, during compounding, of bifunctional silica coupling agents having a moiety (e.g., an alkoxysilyl group) reactive with the silica surface, and a moiety (e.g., a mercapto, amino, vinyl, epoxy or sulfide group) that binds to the elastomer. Well known examples of such silica coupling agents are mercaptosilanes, bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)polysulfides, such as bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide which is sold commercially as Si69 by Degussa, and 3-thiocyanatopropyl trimethoxysilane. These bifunctional silica coupling agents offer excellent coupling between rubber and silica, resulting in rubbers having improved wet ice skid resistance, rolling resistance and tread wear.

However, there are disadvantages to the use of bifunctional silica coupling agents. For example, the high chemical reactivity of the —SH functions of the mercaptosilanes with organic polymers can lead to unacceptably high viscosities during processing and to premature curing (scorch). The tendency of a rubber compound to scorch makes compounding and processing more difficult. Mixing and milling must be done more quickly, yet at lower temperatures (e.g., 120° C. to 145° C.), so that the compound will not begin to vulcanize before it is shaped or molded. Rubber compounds employing bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agents, such as Si69, must be mixed at a temperature below 165° C., if an irreversible thermal degradation of the polysulfide function of the coupling agent and premature curing of the mixture are to be avoided. The upper processing temperature limitations of the bifunctional silica coupling agents result in a marked reduction in the mechanical activity of mixing which is essential for an optimum dispersion of the silica throughout the polymer matrix. Therefore, compared with carbon black-filled compositions, tread compounds having good silica dispersion require a longer mixing time at a lower temperature to achieve improved performance, resulting in decreased production and increased expense. Moreover, both bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)polysulfide and mercaptosilane silica coupling agents are expensive.

Another disadvantage of the use of bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide and mercaptosilane silica coupling agents is that the upper processing temperature limitations result in a relatively slow rate of the chemical reaction between the alkoxysilyl portion of the silica coupling agents and the silica (the alkoxysilane-silica reaction). Because this reaction results in the release of a substantial amount of alcohol, a slow reaction rate results in the presence of unreacted alkoxysilyl groups in the compounded product that are then available to further react with the silica and moisture during storage, extrusion, tire build, and/or curing, resulting in an undesirable increase in the compound viscosity, and a shorter shelf life. Moreover, the continuing reaction in the compound evolves more alcohol, resulting in porous zones or blisters which can form surface defects in the resulting formed rubber articles and/or can impair the dimensional stability of treads during extrusion and tire building. As a result, a low tread strip drawing speed must be maintained to ensure that the drawn product conforms with specifications, resulting in a further decrease in production and concomitant increase in costs.

To address the expense and other problems related to bifunctional silica coupling agents, recent approaches to improving dispersion of silica in rubber compounds have been directed to reducing or replacing the use of such silica coupling agents by employing silica dispersing aids, such as monofunctional silica shielding agents (e.g., silica hydrophobating agents that chemically react with the surface silanol groups on the silica particles but are not reactive with the elastomer) and agents which physically shield the silanol groups, to prevent reagglomeration (flocculation) of the silica particles after compounding. For example, silica dispersing aids, such as alkyl alkoxysilanes, glycols (e.g., diethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol), fatty acid esters of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated C₅ and C₆ sugars (e.g., sorbitan oleates, and the like), polyoxyethylene derivatives of the fatty acid esters, and fillers such as mica, talc, urea, clay, sodium sulfate, and the like, are the subjects of EP 890603 and EP 890606. Such silica dispersing aids can be used to replace all or part of expensive bifunctional silica coupling agents, while improving the processability of silica-filled rubber compounds by reducing the compound viscosity, increasing the scorch time, and reducing silica reagglomeration. To achieve a satisfactory cure of the rubber compound, the use of silica dispersing aids includes employing an increased amount of sulfur in a mixing step when curing agents are added to the composition, to replace sulfur that otherwise would have been supplied by a sulfur-containing silica coupling agent.

An advantage of the use of silica dispersing aids during compounding of elastomers with silica is that, unlike the bifunctional silica coupling agents described above, the dispersing aids do not contain sulfur and, thus, they can be used at high temperature, e.g., about 165° C. to about 200° C., in the absence of curing agents, without increasing the risk of premature curing. At these high temperatures, the reaction between the silica and alkoxysilyl groups of alkyl alkoxysilane silica dispersing aids is accelerated, resulting in an increase in the amount of alcohol evolved and evaporated during compounding, and a decrease in evolution of alcohol from the compound during storage, extrusion, curing and tire build.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Unexpectedly, it has been discovered that improvements in the tensile mechanical properties and dynamic viscoelastic properties of silica-reinforced sulfur-vulcanized rubbers can be achieved by compounding elastomers with silica, in the presence of an alkoxysilane and a catalytic amount of a strong organic base. A strong organic base, for purposes of this invention, is defined as an organic base preferably having a pK_(a) of greater than about 10 and, preferably, about 11 to about 18. In optimal systems, the strong organic base has a pK_(a) greater than about 12. The strong organic base acts as a catalyst to accelerate the alkoxysilane-silica reaction, and this reaction proceeds more rapidly, the higher the compounding temperature. For example, when mercaptosilane silica coupling agents, such as γ-mercaptoalkyltrialkoxysilanes, are employed with alkyl alkoxysilane silica dispersing aids, in the amounts and ratios described below, compounding temperatures can range from about 130° C. to about 200° C., and preferred high compounding temperatures can range from about 155° C. to about 200° C., more preferably about 170° C. to about 200° C., and especially about 170° C. to about 185° C.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound, comprising an elastomer, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, an alkyl alkoxysilane, a mercaptosilane silica coupling agent, wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is a maximum of 0.14:1, a catalytic amount of a strong organic base, and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure. It has been discovered that a very small amount of the mercaptosilane facilitates binding of silica by the polymer without resulting in premature curing, the alkyl alkoxysilane provides a desirable viscosity for processability, and the strong organic base catalyzes the alkoxysilane-silica reaction binding silica to both silanes, in the absence of cure agents and added sulfur. In another embodiment of the invention, the elastomer is functionalized with an alkoxysilane terminal group, and the strong organic base also catalyzes the binding of the silica to the polymer via the terminal group.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound, comprising an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture of silica and carbon black, a silica coupling agent selected from the group consisting of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilyl-organo)disulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, and about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica; a silica dispersing aid; a catalytic amount of the strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure. The strong organic base catalyzes the binding of silica to the silica coupling agent, and/or to the optional silica dispersing aid if the dispersing aid has an alkoxysilane group, and/or to the optional alkoxysilane terminal group on the elastomer, in the absence of cure agents. When polysulfide silica coupling agents are employed, compounding temperatures can range from 165° C. to about 200° C., and preferred high compounding temperatures can range from about 170° C. to about 200° C., and especially about 170° C. to about 185° C.

The sulfur-vulcanizable rubber compounds of the invention have longer scorch times, faster curing rates, and a decrease in evolution of ethanol during storage, extrusion, curing and tire build, resulting in less compound porosity with fewer blisters, and a more stable compound viscosity during storage, than similar compounds prepared at the same temperature in the absence of the strong organic base. Rubber compounds produced according to the invention method exhibit improved dynamic viscoelastic properties, especially a lower storage modulus (G′) at −20° C., a higher tan δ at 0° C., and a lower tan δ at 50° C. Such properties have been commonly used in the tire industry to predict tire performance in the categories of snow and ice traction (G′ at −20° C.), wet traction (tan δ at 0° C.), and rolling resistance (tan δ at 50° C.).

The invention further provides pneumatic tires comprising at least one component produced from the vulcanized rubber compounds and methods for preparing the rubber compounds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the results of a temperature sweep test comparing the tan δ of a cured invention rubber stock (Stock 4) containing an alkyl alkoxysilane, a mercaptosilane, and a strong organic base catalyst (DPG) mixed with the elastomer and silica at 175° C. in the master batch, a comparison similar stock (C-E) mixed at the temperature in the absence of DPG in the master batch, and a comparison stock (C-D) containing a conventional amount of Si69 silica coupling agent mixed at 155° C. where DPG is added as a secondary accelerator in the final stage of mixing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms elastomer, polymer and rubber are used interchangeably herein, as is customary in the rubber industry. Strong organic bases suitable for use as a catalyst in the invention preferably have a pK_(a) of greater than about 10, more preferably about 11 to about 18 and, optimally, greater than about 12. The strong base can be present in the compound in an amount of about 0.01% to about 10%, typically about 0.1% to about 5%, based on the weight of the silica. For example, the catalytic amount of the strong organic base is typically about 0.003 per hundred parts rubber (phr) to about 8 phr, typically about 0.03 phr to about 4 phr. Exemplary strong organic bases for use in the invention compounds include, but are not limited to, strong alkali metal alkoxides, such as sodium or potassium alkoxide; guanidines, such as triphenylguanidine (TPG), diphenylguanidine (DPG), di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylguanidine (TMG), and the like; and hindered amine bases, such as 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), and the like, tertiary amine catalysts, such as N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine, triethylenediamine, triethylamine, and the like, quaternary ammonium bases, such as tetrabutylammonoium hydroxide, bisaminoethers, such as bis(dimethylaminoethyl)ethers, and the like.

It is known that guanidines, such as diphenylguanidine (DPG), can be used as a secondary accelerator with a primary accelerator (e.g., a sulfenamide, a thiazol, and the like) and sulfur in the curing stage of rubber. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that in the curing stage, the strongly basic guanidines bind to acid sites remaining on the silica surfaces to prevent binding of zinc, primary accelerators, and other curatives to the silica, in order to allow the sulfur-polymer crosslinking reaction to occur. Thus, guanidines used as secondary accelerators are added, with other curatives and sulfur, in the final stage of mixing at a temperature below the vulcanization temperature, typically not exceeding 120° C., after the major portion of the alkoxysilane-silica reaction has already occurred. In contrast, in the present invention, strong organic bases, such as guanidines, act as catalysts for the alkoxysilane-silica reaction in the first, high temperature mixing stage, in the absence of cure agents and added sulfur.

The alkoxysilane-silica reaction catalyzed by the strong organic base requires the presence of a silane and silica in the sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric composition, and is accelerated at high compounding temperatures, such as about 155° C. to about 200° C., especially about 170° C. to about 185° C., and the like. The silane can be present as an alkoxysilane terminal functional group on the polymer, and/or as an alkoxysilane silica dispersing aid, and/or as a sulfur-containing silica coupling agent, such as a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)polysulfide or a mercapto-organoalkoxysilane, and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the elastomer has an alkoxysilane terminal group, and the strong organic base catalyzes the reaction between the silica filler and the alkoxysilane terminal group to increase formation of polymer-filler bonds.

The reaction that binds silica to polymers having one to three (n) alkoxysilane terminal groups is well known and is schematically illustrated below. Polymer-Si—(OR)_(n)+nH₂O →Polymer-Si—(OH)_(n)+nROH   (1) Polymer-Si—(OH)_(n)+nSiO₂→Polymer-Si—(OSi)_(n)+nH₂O   (2)

In another embodiment of the invention, the —SH groups of the mercaptoorganoalkoxysilane silica coupling agent associate with the polymer during the compounding process and the strong organic base catalyzes the reaction of the silica and the alkoxysilane portion of the mercaptosilane to bind the silica to the polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the elastomer has an alkoxysilane terminal group and both of the foregoing alkoxysilane-silica reactions take place.

The alkoxysilane-silica reaction also occurs in the binding of silica by alkoxysilane silica dispersing aids, and by bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agents that can be used at high compounding temperatures of about 165° C. to about 200° C. without resulting in premature scorch. The reaction also occurs in the binding of silica by bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agents, such as Si69, and/or bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agents and/or mercaptosilane silica coupling agents, and/or alkoxysilane silica dispersing aids at a temperature of 160° C. or less, although the reaction is slower at the lower temperature. It is known that the use of a conventional coupling amount of Si69 (e.g., about 5% to about 20% by weight, based on the weight of the silica) at a temperature of 165° C. or greater results in irreversible thermal degradation of the polysulfide function of the coupling agent and premature curing of the mixture. However, bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agents, which are structurally similar to the tetrasulfide coupling agents but contain a preponderance of disulfide chains, have better thermal stability because the reaction between the disulfide chain and the polymer only occurs in the presence of added sulfur. (KGK Kautschuk Gummi Kunststoffe 53(1), 10-23, February 2000; Tire Technology International, pp. 52-59, March 2000). Exemplary of this category of coupling agents are bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)disulfide (“TESPD”), containing greater than 80% disulfides, and “VP Si75”, containing about 75% disulfides, both available from Degussa, and Silquest® A1589, containing about 75% disulfides, available from Crompton (formerly Witco).

Moreover, it has been discovered that very small amounts (e.g., about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, based on the weight of the silica) of bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agents (e.g., Si69) can be mixed with the elastomer and the silica, in the absence of added sulfur and cure agents, at 165° C. to about 200° C., without premature curing of the compound.

In the preferred embodiment, regardless of the source of the silane, the strong organic base catalyzes the alkoxysilane-silica reaction at high compounding temperature to produce rubber compounds having improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties, compared to similar compounds prepared at the temperature in the absence of the strong organic base.

In one embodiment of the invention, a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound of the invention comprises an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, an alkyl alkoxysilane and a mercaptosilane silica coupling agent, wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is a maximum of 0.14:1, a catalytic amount of the strong organic base, and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure.

To obtain desirable processability, tensile mechanical properties and dynamic viscoelastic properties in the rubber compounds, the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is a maximum of 0.14:1, preferably about 0.001:1 to about 0.10:1, typically about 0.01:1 to about 0.10:1. These ratios provide a compound having good processability as a result of the alkyl alkoxysilane silica dispersing aid, and also a satisfactory tensile modulus at 300% strain and bound rubber content, as a result of binding of the silica filler to the polymer by the mercaptosilane. The mercaptosilane is present in the compound in an amount of about 0.0001% to about 3% by weight, typically about 0.001% to about 1.5% by weight, and especially about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, based on the weight of the silica. It has been discovered that the use of such a small amount of the mercaptosilane, even at a high mixing temperature, unexpectedly does not result in premature curing. Therefore, the mercaptosilane and alkyl alkoxysilane can be mixed with the elastomer and silica reinforcing filler in the first stage of the mixing process, especially at a higher temperature (e.g., about 130° C. to about 200° C., preferably about 155° C. to about 200° C., more preferably about 170° C. to about 200° C., especially about 170° C. to about 185° C.) than previously allowable for conventional amounts (e.g., about 3% by weight based on the weight of the silica) of mercaptosilane coupling agents, resulting in a shorter mixing time with a concomitant savings in production time and expense, and improved performance of the ultimate rubber product. The presence of the strong organic base catalyst for the alkoxysilane-silica reaction, in addition to the mercaptosilane and alkyl alkoxysilane in the desired weight ratio range, results in an improvement in the tensile modulus at 300% strain and other tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties of the compound and a desirable compound viscosity and processability, because of the acceleration of the alkoxysilane-silica reaction catalyzed by the strong organic base.

The amount of the mercaptosilane and the alkyl alkoxysilane in the compound is based on the weight of silica present, as is known to those skilled in the art of rubber compounding. The alkyl alkoxysilane can be present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, based on the weight of the silica. Preferably, the alkyl alkoxysilane is present in an amount of about 0.5% to about 15% by weight and, more preferably, in an amount of about 1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.

Mercaptosilanes suitable for use in this embodiment of the invention compounds have the formula

where X is a halogen or an alkoxy; R is C₁ to C₄ alkylene; R′ is independently C₁ to about C₁₀ alkyl, about C₇ to about C₃₀ alkaryl, about C₅ to about C₃₀ cycloaliphatic, or C₆ to about C₂₀ aromatic; and “n” is an integer from 1 to 3. The halogen can be selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, and fluorine, preferably chlorine. R is preferably C₁ to C₃ alkylene, X is preferably an alkoxy; and n is preferably 3.

Exemplary mercaptosilanes include, but are not limited to, 1-mercaptomethyltriethoxysilane, 2-mercaptoethyltriethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropylmethyldiethoxysilane, 2-mercaptoethyltriproxysilane, 18-mercaptooctadecyldiethoxychlorosilane, and the like, and mixtures of any of the foregoing.

Alkyl alkoxysilanes suitable for use in the invention compounds have the formula R¹ _(p)Si (OR²)_(4-p) where the alkoxy groups are the same or different from each other, each R¹ independently comprises C₁ to about C₂₀ aliphatic, about C₅ to about C₂₀ cycloaliphatic, or about C₆ to about C₂₀ aromatic, each R² independently comprises C₁ to about C₆, and p is an integer from 1 to 3. Preferably, at least one R¹ contains from 6 to 20 carbon atoms and the remainder of the R¹ groups, if any, contain from 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Preferably, R² contains 1 to 4, more preferably 1 or 2, carbon atoms. Preferably R² is an alkyl group. More preferably, at least one R¹ is much larger in terms of carbon atoms than an R² contained in the alkoxy groups of the silane.

Exemplary alkyl alkoxysilanes include, but are not limited to, octyl triethoxysilane, octyl trimethoxysilane, trimethyl ethoxysilane, cyclohexyl triethoxysilane, isobutyl triethoxysilane, ethyl trimethoxysilane, cyclohexyl tributoxysilane, dimethyl diethoxysilane, methyl triethoxysilane, propyl triethoxysilane, hexyl triethoxysilane, heptyl triethoxysilane, nonyl triethoxysilane, octadecyl triethoxysilane, methyloctyl diethoxysilane, dimethyl dimethoxysilane, methyl trimethoxysilane, propyl trimethoxysilane, hexyl trimethoxysilane, heptyl trimethoxysilane, nonyl trimethoxysilane, octadecyl trimethoxysilane, methyloctyl dimethoxysilane, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the alkyl alkoxysilane is an alkyl trialkoxysilane. More preferably, the alkyl alkoxysilane is selected from at least one of n-octyl triethoxysilane, n-hexadecyl triethoxysilane, n-octadecyl triethoxysilane, and methyl n-octyl diethoxysilane.

Although alkyl alkoxysilanes and mercaptosilanes employing methoxysilane groups can be used, it is preferred for environmental reasons that ethoxysilanes are employed, rather than methoxysilanes, because ethyl alcohol, rather than methyl alcohol, will be released when the alkoxysilane portion of the coupling agent reacts with the surface of the silica particle.

In another embodiment of the invention, a sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound comprises an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group; a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black; a silica coupling agent selected from the group consisting of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, and mixtures thereof; a silica dispersing aid; a catalytic amount of the strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure. The compound is preferably formed by mixing the elastomer, the silica, the silica coupling agent, the silica dispersing aid and the strong organic base, in the absence of the cure agent, at a temperature of 165° C. to about 200° C. More preferably, the mixing temperature is about 170° C. to about 200° C., especially about 170° C. to about 185° C. The strong organic base and the catalytic amounts employed in the vulcanizable elastomeric composition are the same as those described above.

Exemplary bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agents suitable for use in the invention include, but are not limited to, 3,3′-bis(triethoxy-silylpropyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(trimethoxysilylpropyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(tributoxysilyl-propyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(tri-t-butoxysilylpropyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(trihexoxysilyl-propyl)disulfide, 2,2′-bis(dimethylmethoxysilylethyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(diphenyl-cyclohexoxysilylpropyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(ethyl-di-sec-butoxysilylpropyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(propyldiethoxysilylpropyl)disulfide, 12,12′-bis(triisopropoxysilylpropyl)disulfide, 3,3′-bis(dimethoxyphenylsilyl-2′-methylpropyl)disulfide, and the like, and mixtures of any of the foregoing.

Exemplary bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agents suitable for use in the invention include, but are not limited to, bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide, bis(2-triethoxysilylethyl)tetrasulfide, bis(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide, 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl-N,N-dimethylthio-carbamoyl tetrasulfide, 3-triethoxysilylpropyl-N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl tetrasulfide, 2-triethoxysilyl-N,N-dimethylthiocarbamoyl tetrasulfide, 3-trimethoxy-silylpropylbenzothiazole tetrasulfide, 3-triethoxysilylpropylbenzothiazole tetrasulfide, and the like, and mixtures of any of the foregoing. Particularly preferred is bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide.

Similarly to the alkyl alkoxysilanes and mercaptosilanes described above, the bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide and disulfide silica coupling agents employing methoxysilane groups can be used; however, it is preferred for environmental reasons that ethoxysilanes are employed, rather than methoxysilanes, because ethyl alcohol, rather than methyl alcohol, will be released when the alkoxysilane portion of the coupling agent reacts with the surface of the silica particle.

The bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agent can be present in the compound in an amount of about 0.1% to about 20% by weight, typically about 0.5% to about 15% by weight, especially about 1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the silica. The bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent can be present in the compound in an amount of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, typically about 0.05% to about 1% by weight, especially about 0.1% to about 1% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.

As discussed below, in all of the embodiments of the invention, the polymer preferably is an elastomer selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of conjugated diene monomers, and copolymers and terpolymers of the conjugated diene monomers with monovinyl aromatic monomers and trienes. Exemplary elastomers include, but are not limited to, polyisoprene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, butadiene-isoprene copolymer, butadiene-isoprene-styrene terpolymer, isoprene-styrene copolymer, and styrene-butadiene copolymer.

Exemplary silica dispersing aids suitable for use in the invention include, but are not limited to an alkyl alkoxysilane, a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C₅ or C₆ sugar, a polyoxyethylene derivative of a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C₅ or C₆ sugar, and mixtures thereof or a mineral or non-mineral additional filler, as described in greater detail below. The alkyl alkoxysilane is the same as described above, and is preferably an alkyl triethoxysilane. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the total amount of the alkyl alkoxysilane employed in the embodiment of the invention where the silica coupling agent is a mercaptosilane will not exceed the maximum allowed to produce a maximum mercaptosilane/alkyl alkoxysilane ratio of 0.14:1. In the embodiment of the invention employing the bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide and/or tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, the alkyl alkoxysilane can be present in the compound in an amount of about 0.1% to about 25% by weight, especially about 0.1% to about 15% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.

Exemplary fatty acid esters of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated C₅ and C₆ sugars (e.g., sorbose, mannose, and arabinose) that are useful as silica dispersing aids include, but are not limited to, the sorbitan oleates, such as sorbitan monooleate, dioleate, trioleate and sesquioleate, as well as sorbitan esters of laurate, palmitate and stearate fatty acids. Fatty acid esters of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated C₅ and C₆ sugars are commercially available from ICI Specialty Chemicals (Wilmington, Del.) under the trade name SPAN®. Representative products include SPAN® 60 (sorbitan stearate), SPAN® 80 (sorbitan oleate), and SPAN® 85 (sorbitan trioleate). Other commercially available fatty acid esters of sorbitan are also available, such as the sorbitan monooleates known as Alkamul® SMO; Capmul® O; Glycomul® O; Arlacel® 80; Emsorb® 2500; and S-Maz® 80. A useful amount of these additional silica dispersing aids when used with the bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)polysulfide silica coupling agents is about 0.1% to about 25% by weight based on the weight of the silica, with about 0.5% to about 20% by weight being preferred, and about 1% to about 15% by weight based on the weight of the silica being more preferred. In the alkyl alkoxysilane and mercaptosilane embodiment of the invention, it may be desirable to use about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the fatty acid ester based on the weight of the silica. Esters of polyols, including glycols such as polyhydroxy compounds and the like, in the same quantities, are also useful in all invention embodiments.

Exemplary polyoxyethylene derivatives of fatty acid esters of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated C₅ and C₆ sugars include, but are not limited to, polysorbates and polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters, which are analogous to the fatty acid esters of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated sugars noted above except that ethylene oxide groups are placed on each of the hydroxyl groups. Representative examples of polyoxyethylene derivatives of sorbitan include POE® (20) sorbitan monooleate, Polysorbate® 80, Tween® 80, Emsorb® 6900, Liposorb® O-20, T-Maz® 80, and the like. The Tween® products are commercially available from ICI Specialty Chemicals. Generally, a useful amount of these optional silica dispersing aids is about 0.1% to about 25% by weight based on the weight of the silica, with about 0.5% to about 20% by weight being preferred, and about 1% to about 15% by weight based on the weight of the silica being more preferred. In the alkyl alkoxysilane and mercaptosilane embodiment of the invention, it may be desirable to use about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the polyoxyethylene derivative based on the weight of the silica.

The silica coupling agents, the alkyl alkoxysilanes, the fatty acid esters and their polyoxyethylene derivatives, and the strong organic base catalysts, can be fully or partially supported by the reinforcing filler. The ratio of the dispersing aid or catalyst to the reinforcing filler is not critical. If the dispersing aid is a liquid, a suitable ratio of dispersing aid to filler is that which results in a suitably dry material for addition to the elastomer. For example, the ratio can be about 1/99 to about 70/30, about 20/80 about 60/40, about 50/50, and the like.

Certain additional fillers can be utilized according to the present invention as processing aids, including mineral fillers, such as clay (hydrous aluminum silicate), talc (hydrous magnesium silicate), aluminum hydrate [Al(OH)₃] and mica, as well as non-mineral fillers such as urea and sodium sulfate. Preferred micas principally contain alumina and silica, although other known variants are also useful. The foregoing additional fillers are optional and can be utilized in the amount of about 0.5 to about 40 phr, preferably in an amount of about one to about 20 phr and, more preferably in an amount of about one to about 10 phr. These additional fillers can also be used as non-reinforcing fillers to support the strong organic base catalysts, as well as any of the silica dispersing aids, and silica coupling agents described above. As with the support of the silica dispersing aid on the reinforcing filler, as described above, the ratio of dispersing aid to non-reinforcing filler is not critical. For example, the ratio can be about 1/99 to about 70/30, about 20/80 about 60/40, about 50/50, and the like.

The elastomeric compositions of the invention are preferably compounded with reinforcing fillers, such as silica, or a mixture of silica and carbon black. Examples of suitable silica reinforcing filler include, but are not limited to, precipitated amorphous silica, wet silica (hydrated silicic acid), dry silica (anhydrous silicic acid), fumed silica, calcium silicate, and the like. Other suitable fillers include aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, and the like. Among these, precipitated amorphous wet-process, hydrated silicas are preferred. These silicas are so-called because they are produced by a chemical reaction in water, from which they are precipitated as ultrafine, spherical particles. These primary particles strongly associate into aggregates, which in turn combine less strongly into agglomerates. The surface area, as measured by the BET method gives the best measure of the reinforcing character of different silicas. For silicas of interest for the present invention, the surface area should be about 32 m²/g to about 400 m²/g, with the range of about 100 m²/g to about 250 m²/g being preferred, and the range of about 150 m²/g to about 220 m²/g being most preferred. The pH of the silica filler is generally about 5.5 to about 7 or slightly over, preferably about 5.5 to about 6.8.

Silica can be employed in the amount of about one to about 100 parts by weight per hundred parts of the elastomer (phr), preferably in an amount of about five to about 80 phr and, more preferably, in an amount of about 30 to about 80 phr. The useful upper range is limited by the high viscosity imparted by fillers of this type. Some of the commercially available silicas which can be used include, but are not limited to, Hi-Sil® 190, Hi-Sil® 210, Hi-Sil® 215, Hi-Sil® 233, Hi-Sil® 243, and the like, produced by PPG Industries (Pittsburgh, Pa.). A number of useful commercial grades of different silicas are also available from Degussa Corporation (e.g., VN2, VN3), Rhone Poulenc (e.g., Zeosil® 1165MP), and J. M. Huber Corporation.

The elastomers can be compounded with all forms of carbon black in a mixture with the silica. The carbon black can be present in amounts ranging from about one to about 50 phr, with about five to about 35 phr being preferred. The carbon blacks can include any of the commonly available, commercially-produced carbon blacks, but those having a surface area (EMSA) of at least 20 m²/g and, more preferably, at least 35 m²/g up to 200 m²/g or higher are preferred. Surface area values used in this application are determined by ASTM D-1765 using the cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) technique. Among the useful carbon blacks are furnace black, channel blacks and lamp blacks. More specifically, examples of useful carbon blacks include super abrasion furnace (SAF) blacks, high abrasion furnace (HAF) blacks, fast extrusion furnace (FEF) blacks, fine furnace (FF) blacks, intermediate super abrasion furnace (ISAF) blacks, semi-reinforcing furnace (SRF) blacks, medium processing channel blacks, hard processing channel blacks and conducting channel blacks. Other carbon blacks which can be utilized include acetylene blacks. A mixture of two or more of the above blacks can be used in preparing the carbon black products of the invention. Typical suitable carbon blacks are N-110, N-220, N-339, N-330, N-351, N-550, N-660, as designated by ASTM D-1765-82a. The carbon blacks utilized in the preparation of the vulcanizable elastomeric compositions of the invention can be in pelletized form or an unpelletized flocculent mass. Preferably, for more uniform mixing, unpelletized carbon black is preferred.

In one embodiment of the invention, the sulfur-vulcanized elastomeric compound of the invention is prepared by the steps of (a) mixing together at a temperature of about 130° C. to about 200° C. in the absence of added sulfur and cure agents, an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, an alkyl alkoxysilane, and a mercaptosilane, wherein the ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is a maximum of 0.14:1, and a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; (b) allowing the mixture to cool below the mixing temperature; (c) mixing the mixture obtained in step (b), at a temperature lower than a vulcanization temperature, with a cure agent and an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure; and (d) curing the mixture obtained in step (c). The compound is usually cured at about 140° C. to about 190° C. for about 5 to about 120 minutes.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method for preparing a sulfur-vulcanized elastomeric compound, comprises the steps of: (a) mixing together at a temperature of 165° C. to about 200° C. in the absence of added sulfur and cure agents, an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group, a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black, a silica coupling agent selected from the group consisting of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, and mixtures thereof, a silica dispersing aid, and a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; (b) allowing the mixture to cool below the mixing temperature; (c) mixing the mixture obtained in step (b), at a temperature lower than a vulcanization temperature, with a cure agent and an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure; and (d) curing the mixture obtained in step (c).

In particular, the initial step in each method embodiment requires that the mixture reaches a temperature from 165° C. to about 200° C., preferably about 170° C. to about 200° C. and, more preferably, about 170° C. to about 185° C. Alternatively, the initial mixing step can include at least two substeps. That is, in the alkyl alkoxysilane and mercaptosilane embodiment, the initial mixing step can comprise the substeps of (i) mixing together at a temperature of about 130° C. to about 200° C., the elastomer, at least a portion of the silica, at least a portion of the alkyl alkoxysilane and at least a portion of the mercaptosilane, and the strong organic base, (ii) cooling the mixture below the mixing temperature; and (iii) mixing the mixture obtained in step (ii) with the remainder of the silica, if any, and the remainder of the alkyl alkoxysilane and mercaptosilane, if any, at a temperature of 130° C. to about 200° C. Similarly, in the bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)polysulfide embodiment, the initial mixing step can comprises the substeps of (i) mixing together at temperature of 165° C. to about 200° C., the elastomer, at least a portion of the silica, at least a portion of the bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide or bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, at least a portion of the silica dispersing aid, and the strong organic base; (ii) cooling the mixture below the mixing temperature; and (iii) mixing the mixture obtained in step (ii) with the remainder of the silica, if any, and the remainder of the silica coupling agent and/or the remainder of the silica dispersing aid, if any, at 165° C. to about 200° C. The temperatures achieved by the at least two substeps can be the same or different from each other, within the temperature range. As disclosed above, the preferred temperature range is about 170° C. to about 200° C., especially about 170° C. to about 185° C.

Each of the methods can further include a remill step in which either no ingredients are added to the first mixture, or non-curing ingredients are added, in order to reduce the compound viscosity and improve the dispersion of the silica reinforcing filler. The temperature of the remill step is typically about 130° C. to about 175° C., especially about 145° to about 165° C.

The final step of the mixing process is the addition of cure agents to the mixture, including an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure of the final compound. The temperature at which the final mixture is mixed must be below the vulcanization temperature in order to avoid unwanted precure of the compound. Therefore, the temperature of the final mixing step should not exceed about 120° C. and is typically about 40° C. to about 120° C., preferably about 60° C. to about 110° C. and, especially, about 75° C. to about 100° C.

The order of addition of the silica, alkyl alkoxysilane, the mercaptosilane, and the strong organic base catalyst to the elastomer in the mixer in the initial step of the method is not critical. The alkyl alkoxysilane and/or the mercaptosilane and/or the strong organic base can be added prior to or after the addition of the silica to the elastomer. In one embodiment, a portion of the silica and the mercaptosilane and/or the alkyl alkoxysilane are added simultaneously to the mixer. For example, the mercaptosilane and/or the alkyl alkoxysilane can be partially or fully supported on the silica and/or the carbon black reinforcing filler. An exemplary commercial product containing a mercaptosilane supported on silica is available from PPG Industries, as Ciptane® 255LD. The ratio of the amount of supported alkyl alkoxysilane to the filler is not critical. If the allyl alkoxysilane is a liquid, a suitable ratio of supported silane to filler is that which results in a suitably dry material for addition to the elastomer. For example, the ratio can be about 1/99 to about 70/30, about 20/80, about 60/40, about 50/50, and the like.

Similarly, the order of addition of the silica, bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent or bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agent, silica dispersing aid, and the strong organic base to the mixer in the initial step of the method is not critical. The silica coupling agent and/or the strong organic base and/or the silica dispersing aid can be added prior to or after the addition of the silica to the elastomer. The silica coupling agent and/or the silica dispersing aid and/or the strong organic base can be partially or fully supported on the silica and/or the carbon black reinforcing filler. An exemplary commercial product containing Si69 supported as a 50/50 blend on carbon black is available from Degussa, as X50S. The ratio of the amount of supported silica coupling agent to the filler is not critical.

The use of an alkyl alkoxysilane with a very small amount of mercaptosilane requires an appropriate adjustment in the amount of sulfur added to the elastomeric compound to achieve a satisfactory cure of the compound. In particular, the amount of the mercaptosilane employed in the present invention provides substantially less sulfur than required for a satisfactory cure. Moreover, in the embodiment of the invention wherein a less than conventional amount of the bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent is employed, an adjustment in the amount of sulfur added in the final step of the mixing process is required. An effective amount of sulfur in any of the invention compositions would provide a property of the cured compound that is approximately equal to the same property of a satisfactorily cured compound containing a conventional amount of Si69 (i.e., about 5% to about 20% by weight, based on the weight of the silica). Cured properties for comparison include, but are not limited to, the value of the 300% modulus (psi), the molecular weight between crosslinks (M_(c), g/mol), and the like, and other cured compound properties that are well known to those skilled in the art of rubber making. The increased amount of sulfur to compensate for the reduced availability of sulfur from the mercaptosilane or bis(trialkoxy-silylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agents will vary from composition to composition, depending on the amount of silica and the amount of silica coupling agent present in the formulation. Based on the disclosure contained herein, and in the examples of invention compositions described below, one skilled in the art of rubber compounding can easily determine the effective amount of sulfur required for a satisfactory cure of the compound without undue experimentation. The additional sulfur can take any form, including soluble sulfur, insoluble sulfur, or any of the sulfur-donating compounds described as vulcanizing agents below, or mixtures of the foregoing.

The compounds produced by the each of the foregoing methods preferably exhibit an improved tensile mechanical or dynamic viscoelastic property compared to a similar compound mixed at the same temperature in the absence of the strong organic base, the property selected from the group of properties consisting of about a 1% to about a 10% decrease in Mooney viscosity after compounding, about a 10% to about a 40% decrease in filler flocculation after compounding, as measured by ΔG′; reduced hysteresis as measured by about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in tan δ at 65° C. and/or tan δ at 50° C.; about a 3% to about a 20% increase in the tensile modulus at 300% strain, and combinations thereof.

The tensile mechanical properties of the invention compounds also are comparable to, or improved over, similar compounds mixed with a conventional amount of a bifunctional silica coupling agent, such as Si69, at 160° C. or less, in the absence of the strong organic base.

The present invention can be used in conjunction with any solution polymerizable or emulsion polymerizable elastomer. Solution and emulsion polymerization techniques are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, conjugated diene monomers, monovinyl aromatic monomers, triene monomers, and the like, can be anionically polymerized to form conjugated diene polymers, or copolymers or terpolymers of conjugated diene monomers and monovinyl aromatic monomers (e.g., styrene, alpha methyl styrene and the like) and triene monomers. Thus, the elastomeric products can include diene homopolymers from monomer A and copolymers thereof with monovinyl aromatic monomers B. Exemplary diene homopolymers are those prepared from diolefin monomers having from about four to about 12 carbon atoms. Exemplary vinyl aromatic copolymers are those prepared from monomers having from about eight to about 20 carbon atoms. Copolymers can comprise from about 99 percent to about 50 percent by weight of diene units and from about one to about 50 percent by weight of monovinyl aromatic or triene units, totaling 100 percent. The polymers, copolymers and terpolymers of the present invention can have 1,2-microstructure-contents ranging from about 10 percent to about 80 percent, with the preferred polymers, copolymers or terpolymers having 1,2-microstructure content of from about 25 to 65 percent, based upon the diene content. The elastomeric copolymers are preferably random copolymers which result from simultaneous copolymerization of the monomers A and B with randomizing agents, as is known in the art.

Preferred polymers for use in a vulcanized elastomeric compound of the invention include polyisoprene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, butadiene-isoprene copolymer, butadiene-isoprene-styrene terpolymer, isoprene-styrene copolymer, and styrene-butadiene copolymer.

Anionic polymerization initiators for use in polymerizing the anionically polymerizable monomers include, but are not limited to, organo-sodium, organo-potassium, organo-tin-lithium, organo-lithium, dialkylimido-lithium and cycloalkylimido-lithium initiators. As an example of such initiators, organo-lithium compounds useful in the polymerization of 1,3-diene monomers are hydrocarbyl lithium compounds having the formula RLi, where R represents a hydrocarbyl group containing from one to about 20 carbon atoms, and preferably from about 2 to about 8 carbon atoms. Although the hydrocarbyl group is preferably an aliphatic group, the hydrocarbyl group can also be cycloaliphatic or aromatic. The aliphatic group can be a primary, secondary, or tertiary group, although the primary and secondary groups are preferred. Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, n-amyl, sec-amyl, n-hexyl, sec-hexyl n-heptyl, n-octyl n-nonyl, n-dodecyl, and octadecyl. The aliphatic group can contain some unsaturation, such as allyl, 2-butenyl, and the like. Cycloalkyl groups are exemplified by cyclohexyl, methylcyclohexyl, ethylcyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclopentylmethyl, and methylcyclopentylethyl. Examples of aromatic hydrocarbyl groups include phenyl tolyl phenylethyl benzyl naphthyl, phenyl cyclohexyl, and the like.

Specific examples of organo-lithium compounds which are useful as anionic initiators in the polymerization of the monomers listed above, especially conjugated dienes include, but are not limited to, n-butyl lithium, n-propyl lithium, iso-butyl lithium, tert-butyl lithium, tributyl tin lithium (described in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,439), amyl-lithium, cyclohexyl lithium, and the like. Other suitable organo-lithium compounds for use as anionic initiators are well known to those skilled in the art. A mixture of different lithium initiator compounds also can be employed. The preferred organo-lithium initiators are n-butyl lithium, tributyl tin lithium and “in situ? produced lithium hexamethyleneimide initiator prepared by reacting hexamethyleneimine and n-butyl lithium (described in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,940).

The amount of initiator required to effect the desired polymerization can be varied over a wide range depending upon a number of factors, such as the desired polymer molecular weight, the desired 1,2- and 1,4-content of the polydiene, and the desired physical properties for the polymer produced. In general, the amount of initiator utilized can vary from as little as 0.2 millimoles (mM) of lithium per 100 grams of monomers up to about 100 mM of lithium per 100 grams of monomers, depending upon the desired polymer molecular weight.

Polymerization is usually conducted in a conventional solvent for anionic polymerizations, such as hexane, cyclohexane, benzene and the like. Various techniques for polymerization, such as semi-batch and continuous polymerization can be employed.

In order to promote randomization in co-polymerization and to increase vinyl content, a polar coordinator can optionally be added to the polymerization ingredients. Amounts range from zero to about 90 or more equivalents per equivalent of lithium. The amount depends upon the type of polar coordinator that is employed, the amount of vinyl desired, the level of styrene employed and the temperature of the polymerizations, as well as the selected initiator. Compounds useful as polar coordinators are organic and include tetrahydrofuran, linear and cyclic oligomeric oxolanyl alkanes such as 2-2′-di(tetrahydrofuryl) propane, dipiperidyl ethane, hexamethyl phosphoramide, N-N′-dimethyl piperazine, diazabicyclo octane, dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, tributyl amine and the like. The linear and cyclic oligomeric oxolanyl alkane polar coordinators are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,091, the subject matter of which regarding polar coordinators is incorporated herein by reference. Other compounds useful as polar coordinators include those having an oxygen or nitrogen hetero-atom and a non-bonded pair of electrons. Examples include dialkyl ethers of mono and oligo alkylene glycols; “crown” ethers; and tertiary amines, such as tetramethylethylene diamine (TMEDA).

Polymerization is begun by charging a blend of the monomer(s) and solvent to a suitable reaction vessel, followed by the addition of the polar coordinator and the initiator previously described. The procedure is carried out under anhydrous, anaerobic conditions. Often, it is conducted under a dry, inert gas atmosphere. The polymerization can be carried out at any convenient temperature, such as about 0° C. to about 150° C. For batch polymerizations, it is preferred to maintain the peak temperature at from about 50° C. to about 150° C. and, more preferably, from about 60° C. to about 100° C. Polymerization is allowed to continue under agitation for about 0.15 hours to 24 hours. After polymerization is complete, the product is terminated by a quenching agent, an endcapping agent and/or a coupling agent, as described herein below. The terminating agent is added to the reaction vessel, and the vessel is agitated for about 0.1 hours to about 4.0 hours. Quenching is usually conducted by stirring the polymer and quenching agent for about 0.01 hours to about 1.0 hour at temperatures of from about 20° C. to about 120° C. to ensure a complete reaction. Polymers terminated with an alkoxysilane functional group, as discussed herein below, are subsequently treated with alcohol or other quenching agent.

Lastly, the solvent is removed from the polymer by conventional techniques such as drum drying, extruder drying, vacuum drying or the like, which can be combined with coagulation with water, alcohol or steam. If coagulation with water or steam is used, oven drying can be desirable.

One way to terminate the polymerization reaction is to employ a protic quenching agent to give a monofunctional polymer chain. Quenching can be conducted in water, steam or an alcohol such as isopropanol, or any other suitable method. Quenching can also be conducted with a functional terminating agent, resulting in a difunctional polymer. Any compounds providing terminal functionality (i.e., endcapping) that are reactive with the polymer bound carbon-lithium moiety can be selected to provide a desired functional group. Examples of such compounds are alcohols, substituted aldimines, substituted ketimines, Michler's ketone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, 1-alkyl substituted pyrrolidinones, 1-aryl substituted pyrrolidinones, tin tetrachloride, tributyl tin chloride, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof. Further examples of reactive compounds include the terminators described in co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,521,309 and 5,066,729, the subject matter of which, pertaining to terminating agents and terminating reactions, is hereby incorporated by reference. Other useful terminating agents can include those of the structural formula (R)_(z)ZX_(b), where Z is tin or silicon. It is preferred that Z is tin. R is an alkyl having from about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; a cycloalkyl having from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms; an aryl having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl having from about 7 to about 20 carbon atoms. For example, R can include methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, neophyl, phenyl, cyclohexyl or the like. X is a halogen, such as chlorine or bromine, or alkoxy (—OR), “a” is an integer from zero to 3, and “b” is an integer from one to 4, where a+b=4. Examples of such terminating agents include tin tetrachloride, tributyl tin chloride, butyl tin trichloride, butyl silicon trichloride, as well as tetraethoxysilane, Si(OEt)₄, and methyl triphenoxysilane, MeSi(OPh)₃. The practice of the present invention is not limited solely to these terminators, since other compounds that are reactive with the polymer bound carbon-lithium moiety can be selected to provide a desired functional group.

While terminating to provide a functional group on the terminal end of the polymer is preferred, it is further preferred to terminate by a coupling reaction with, for example, tin tetrachloride or other coupling agent such as silicon tetrachloride or esters. High levels of tin coupling are desirable in order to maintain good processability in the subsequent manufacturing of rubber products. It is preferred that the polymers for use in the vulcanizable elastomeric compositions according to the present invention have at least about 25 percent tin coupling. That is, about 25 percent of the polymer mass after coupling is of higher molecular weight than the polymer before coupling as measured, for example, by gel permeation chromatography. Preferably, before coupling, the polydispersity (the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight) of polymers, which can be controlled over a wide range, is from about one to about 5, preferably one to about 2 and, more preferably, one to about 1.5.

As noted above, various techniques known in the art for carrying out polymerizations can be used to produce elastomers polymers suitable for use in the vulcanizable elastomeric compositions, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The preferred conjugated diene polymers, or copolymers or terpolymers of conjugated diene monomers and monovinyl aromatic monomers, can be utilized as 100 parts of the rubber in the treadstock compound, or they can be blended with any conventionally employed treadstock rubber which includes natural rubber, synthetic rubber and blends thereof Such rubbers are well known to those skilled in the art and include synthetic polyisoprene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), styrene-isoprene-butadiene rubber, styrene-isoprene rubber, butadiene-isoprene rubber, polybutadiene, butyl rubber, neoprene, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), silicone rubber, the fluoroelastomers, ethylene acrylic rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), epichlorohydrin rubbers, chlorinated polyethylene rubbers, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubbers, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, tetrafluoroethylene-propylene rubber and the like. When the vulcanizable elastomeric composition of the present invention is blended with conventional rubbers, the amounts can vary widely with a lower limit comprising about ten percent to 20 percent by weight of the total rubber. The minimum amount will depend primarily upon the physical properties desired.

Vulcanized elastomeric compounds of the invention are prepared by the method described above. It is readily understood by those having skill in the art that the rubber compound would be compounded by methods generally known in the rubber compounding art, such as mixing the various vulcanizable polymer(s) with various commonly used additive materials such as, for example, curing agents, activators, retarders and accelerators, processing additives, such as oils, resins, including tackifying resins, plasticizers, pigments, additional fillers, fatty acid, zinc oxide, waxes, antioxidants, anti-ozonants, and peptizing agents. As known to those skilled in the art, depending on the intended use of the sulfur vulcanizable and sulfur vulcanized material (rubbers), the additives mentioned above are selected and commonly used in conventional amounts., in addition to other conventional rubber additives including, for example, other fillers, plasticizers, antioxidants, cure agents and the like, using standard rubber mixing equipment and procedures.

Such elastomeric compositions, when vulcanized using conventional rubber vulcanization conditions, exhibit reduced hysteresis, which means a product having increased rebound, decreased rolling resistance and lessened heat build-up when subjected to mechanical stress. Products including tires, power belts and the like are envisioned. Decreased rolling resistance is, of course, a useful property for pneumatic tires, both radial as well as bias ply types and thus, the vulcanizable elastomeric compositions of the present invention can be utilized to form treadstocks for such tires. Pneumatic tires can be made according to the constructions disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,866,171; 5,876,527; 5,931,211; and 5,971,046, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The composition can also be used to form other elastomeric tire components such as subtreads, black sidewalls, body ply skims, bead fillers and the like.

Typical amounts of tackifier resins, if used, comprise about 0.5 to about 10 phr, usually about one to about 5 phr. Typical amounts of compounding aids comprise about one to about 50 phr. Such compounding aids can include, for example, aromatic, naphthenic, and/or paraffinic processing oils. Typical amounts of antioxidants comprise about 0.1 to about 5 phr. Suitable antioxidants, such as diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, are known to those skilled in the art. Typical amounts of anti-ozonants comprise about 0.1 to about 5 phr.

Typical amounts of fatty acids, if used, which can include stearic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid or a mixture of one or more fatty acids, can comprise about 0.5 to about 3 phr. Typical amounts of zinc oxide comprise about one to about 5 phr. Typical amounts of waxes comprise about one to about 2 phr. Often microcrystalline waxes are used. Typical amounts of peptizers, if used, comprise about 0.1 to about 1 phr. Typical peptizers can be, for example, pentachlorothiophenol and dibenzamidodiphenyl disulfide.

The reinforced rubber compounds can be cured in a conventional manner with known vulcanizing agents at about 0.1 to 10 phr. For a general disclosure of suitable vulcanizing agents, one can refer to Kirk-Othmer, Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed., Wiley Interscience, N.Y. 1982, Vol. 20, pp. 365 to 468, particularly “Vulcanization Agents and Auxiliary Materials,” pp. 390 to 402. Vulcanizing agents can be used alone or in combination.

The vulcanization is conducted in the presence of a sulfur vulcanizing agent. Examples of suitable sulfur vulcanizing agents include “rubbermaker's” soluble sulfur; sulfur donating vulcanizing agents, such as an amine disulfide, polymeric polysulfide or sulfur olefin adducts; and insoluble polymeric sulfur. Preferably, the sulfur vulcanizing agent is soluble sulfur or a mixture of soluble and insoluble polymeric sulfur. The sulfur vulcanizing agents are used in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 phr, more preferably about 1.5 to about 7.5 phr, with a range of about 1.5 to about 5 phr being most preferred.

Accelerators are used to control the time and/or temperature required for vulcanization and to improve properties of the vulcanizate. The vulcanization accelerators used in the present invention are not particularly limited. Examples include thiazol vulcanization accelerators, such as 2-mercaptobenzothiazol, dibenzothiazyl disulfide, N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazyl-sulfenamide (CBS), and the like; and guanidine vulcanization accelerators, such as diphenylguanidine (DPG) and the like. The amount of the vulcanization accelerator used is about 0.1 to about 5 phr, preferably about 0.2 to about 3 phr.

Pneumatic tires having an improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties, and comprising at least one component produced from the sulfur-vulcanized elastomeric compounds of the invention, according to the methods of the invention described above, preferably exhibit reduced hysteresis as measured by about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in tan δ at 65° C. and/or tan δ at 50° C., and/or about a 3% to about a 20% increase in the tensile modulus at 300% strain, compared to a tire component produced from a similar compound mixed at the high temperature in the absence of the strong organic base.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate methods of preparation of the vulcanizable elastomeric composition of the present invention. However, the examples are not intended to be limiting, as other methods for preparing these compositions and different compounding formulations may be determined by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.

Example 1 Synthesis of a Mixture of Tin-Coupled and TEOS-Terminated SBR Polymer

This polymer was a mixture containing about 45% TEOS-terminated polymers and about 35% tin-oupled polymer. This polymer was used to prepare the invention rubber stocks designated “Stock 1 ” and “Stock 2” and comparison stocks “C-A” and “C-B” in Table 3.

To a one gallon reactor was charged 0.07 kg of hexane, 0.41 kg of 33.0 percent by weight styrene in hexane, and 1.74 kg 22.4 percent by weight butadiene in hexane. Then, 0.28 ml of 1.6 M 2-2′-di(tetrahydrofuryl)propane in hexane, 0.63 ml of 0.6 M potassium t-amylate in hexane, 1.42 ml of 3.54 M hexamethyleneimine and 3.93 ml of 1.6 M n-butyl lithium in hexane were charged into the reactor, and the jacket temperature was set at 122° F. After 97 minutes, 2.20 ml of 0.25 M tin tetrachloride in hexane was added to the reactor. Ten minutes later, 2.53 ml of 1.12 M tetraethoxyorthosilicate was added to the reactor. After 15 additional minutes, the cement was discharged from the reactor, coagulated with isopropanol, treated with DBPC, and drum dried. The properties of the polymer were: ML₁₊₄=52.4; percent chain coupling=74.5%; M_(n)=1.50×10⁵ g/mol.

Example 2 Tin-Coupled SBR

A tin-coupled polymer sold commercially by Bridgestone/Firestone Corporation was obtained. The properties of the SBR tin-coupled polymer are: ML₁₊₄+72; styrene content=20%; vinyl content=59%; and T_(g)=−33° C. This polymer was used to prepare the invention rubber stock designated “Stock 3” and comparison stock “C-C” in Table 3.

Example 3

In order to demonstrate the methods of preparation and properties of the vulcanized elastomeric compounds of the invention, six stocks of rubbers were prepared using the compounding formulation and mixing conditions shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3. Stocks 1, 2 and 3 were compounded with DPG in the master batch to a temperature of 175° C. to 180° C. In the master batch stage, the DPG acts as a catalyst for the alkoxysilane-silica reaction. Comparison stocks C-A, C-B and C-C were compounded with DPG in the final mixing stage to a temperature of 105° C. where, in combination with the curing agents, DPG serves its customary role as a secondary accelerator.

Stocks 1 and 2 and comparison stocks C-A and C-B were prepared with the tin coupled and TEOS-terminated polymers described in Example 1. Stock 1 is an invention stock prepared by compounding the polymer with silica, the alkyl alkoxysilane, OTES, and DPG at high temperature in the master batch. C-A is a comparison stock prepared by compounding the polymer with silica in the master batch stage at high temperature, and adding Si69 in the remill to a temperature of 155° C. Stock 2 was prepared by adding a small amount (0.2 phr) of Si69 to the polymer and silica in the master batch, in addition to OTES, DPG, and an additional dispersing aid, SMO. C-B was prepared in the same way, except that the DPG was added at low temperature in the final mixing stage. For comparison with the alkoxysilane (TEOS)-terminated stocks 1 and 2 and comparison stocks C-A and C-B, stock 3 and comparison stock C-C were prepared with a tin-coupled polymer described in Example 2, and compounded with the same ingredients as stock 2 and C-B, respectively. Stocks 3 and comparison stock C-C were not alkoxysilane-terminated polymers. The total sulfur content of the stocks containing less Si69 than that of C-A was adjusted to compensate for the reduction in the amount of sulfur in comparison with that donated by the Si69 in C-A. The final stocks were sheeted and subsequently annealed at 171° C. for 15 minutes. TABLE 1 Formulations of Stock Rubbers Ingredient Amount (phr) Functionalized or Tin-Coupled Solution SBR 100 (see Table 3) Carbon Black (SAF) 35 Precipitated Silica 30 Octyl triethoxysilane (OTES) varied Diphenylguanidine (DPG) 0.5 Sorbitan Monooleate (SMO) varied Bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide* varied Naphthenic Process Oil 15 Wax 1.5 Antioxidant 0.95 Sulfur varied Accelerator, N-Cyclo-2- 1.5 benzothiazolesulfenamide (CBS). Zinc Oxide 2.5 *Si69 liquid from Degussa

TABLE 2 Mixing Conditions Mixer 310 g Brabender Agitation Speed 60 rpm Master Batch Stage Initial Temperature 100° C. 0 seconds charging polymers 30 seconds charging carbon black, silica, OTES, DPG (if added in master batch), SMO (if used), Si69 (if used, 0.5 phr or less), and all pigments 5 minutes drop Drop Temperature 175° C.-180° C. Remill Stage Initial Temperature 70° C. 0 seconds charging master batch stock 30 seconds charging Si69 (if added) Drop Temperature 155° C. Final Stage Initial Temperature 90° C. 0 seconds charging remilled stock 30 seconds charging curing agent and accelerators (including DPG if added in final stage) Drop Temperature 105° C.

TABLE 3 Ingredients Used in Various Rubber Stocks OTES in Si69 Amount master DPG Amount Stock SBR Polymer and Stage of batch and Stage of SMO Sulfur Number Type Addition* (phr) Addition* (phr) (phr) C-A Tin-coupled + TEOS- 3 phr in RE 0 0.5 phr in final 0 1.7 terminated Stock 1 Tin-coupled + TEOS- 0 3 0.5 phr in MA 0 2.5 terminated C-B Tin-coupled + TEOS- 0.2 phr in MA 1.65 0.5 phr in final 2.8 2.33 terminated Stock 2 Tin-coupled + TEOS- 0.2 phr in MA 1.65 0.5 phr in MA 2.8 2.33 terminated C-C Tin-coupled 0.2 phr in MA 1.65 0.5 phr in final 2.8 2.33 Stock 3 Tin-coupled 0.2 phr in MA 1.65 0.5 phr in MA 2.8 2.33 *MA = master batch stage RE = remill stage Final = final stage

Example 4

The green stock (i.e., the stock obtained after the final stage, prior to curing) was characterized as to Mooney viscosity and Payne effect (Δ G′) and cure characteristics. The Mooney viscosity measurement was conducted at 130° C. using a large rotor, and was recorded as the torque when rotor had rotated for 4 minutes. The stocks were preheated at 130° C. for 1 minute before the rotor was started. The t₅ is the time required for the viscosity to increase by five Mooney units during a Mooney-scorch measurement. It is used as an index to predict how fast the compound viscosity will increase during processing (e.g., during extrusion). The Payne effect was measured using an RPA 2000 viscometer (Alpha Technologies). The strain sweep test (ΔG′) was conducted at 50° C. at 0.1 Hz using strain sweeping from 0.25% to 1000%.

As illustrated in Table 4, the compound Mooney viscosity and the Payne effect of invention Stock 1 are slightly higher than that of C-A which employs Si69 alone. However, these values are within a satisfactory range. Improvement in both parameters can be achieved-by the addition of more OTES and/or adding SMO, according to the teachings described hereinabove. Stocks 2 and 3 and C-B and C-C all show a reduced compound Mooney viscosity and a reduced Payne effect in comparison to Stock 1 and C-A, indicating that the OTES and SMO, with the optional addition of a small amount of Si69, produces better filler dispersion and-less filler flocculation after compounding, regardless of the presence of DPG in the master batch. A reduced compound Mooney viscosity is advantageous because it provides better processability and handling, especially during the extrusion process.

A Monsanto Rheometer MD2000 was used to characterize the stock curing process, at a frequency of 1.67 Hz and a strain of 7% at 171° C. The measurements t_(S2) and t₉₀ are the times taken for an increase in torque of 2% and 90%, respectively, of the total torque increase during the cure characterization test. These values are useful in predicting the speed of the viscosity increase (t_(S2)) and the cure rate during the cure process (t₉₀). From the data illustrated in Table 4, all of the invention Stocks 1, 2 and 3 and C-B and C-C showed a significant increase in the scorch time, and in the t_(S2), in comparison to the comparison Si69 stock C-A. These results reflect the decreased availability of polysulfide groups at the high master batch temperature, and, concomitantly, the reduced tendency for unwanted precure. The increased scorch time affords the stocks the advantage of a larger processing time window, especially during extrusion. The increase in the t_(s2) provides the stocks a longer time to flow and to better fill the mold. The relatively fast curing rate of Stocks 1 and 2, compared to C-A and the tin-coupled polymer Stock 3 and C-C, are another advantage of the invention stocks.

The foregoing Mooney viscosity, Payne effect and curing results support the notion that adding the DPG in the masterbatch does not affect the rubber processability obtainable from the silica shielding agents. TABLE 4 The green stock Mooney and Cure Characteristics t₅ Scorch @ ΔG′ (G′ @ t_(S2) @ t₉₀ @ Stock Mooney @ 130° C. 0.25%-G′ @ 1000%) 171° C. 171° C. Number 130° C. (min) (kPa) (min) (min) C-A 71.4 18.29 830 1.79 13.58 Stock 1 73.7 20.29 937 2.96 12.74 C-B 62.2 23.60 505 2.27 11.88 Stock 2 61.5 24.82 543 2.45 12.53 C-C 50.0 27.00 737 2.51 20.82 Stock 3 49.9 27.60 718 2.37 19.95

Example 5

The dynamic viscoelastic mechanical properties of the cured invention and comparison stock stocks are listed in Table 5, and were obtained from strain and temperature sweep tests. The Payne effect (ΔG′) and tan δ at 7% strain (a measure of hysteresis) were obtained from the strain sweep test, which was conducted at a frequency of 3.14 radians/second at 65° C. with strain sweeping from 0.25% to 14.75%. As illustrated in Table 5, each of the invention Stocks 1 and 2 show a lower Payne effect and lower hysteresis than their respective comparison stocks C-A and C-B, indicating that better microdispersion of silica is obtained by stocks in which DPG was added in the master batch at high temperature. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the improved microdispersion of silica is due to the increased binding of silica to the alkoxysilane-terminated polymer due to the association of the polar amine group of the DPG with the polar silica surface. As expected, the tin-coupled Stock 3 containing DPG in the master batch showed improved Payne effect and lower hysteresis compared to the comparison stock C-C in which DPG was added in the final mixing stage. This result indicates that the DPG catalyzed the alkoxysilane-silica reaction of the silica and alkyl alkoxysilane dispersing aid. However, the silica microdispersion in each of the tin-coupled polymer stocks was poor in comparison to the stocks using alkoxysilane-terminated polymers.

Further dynamic viscoelastic properties of the cured stock and comparison stock compounds (i.e., the modulus at −20° C. and the tan δ at 0° C. and 50° C.) were obtained as were obtained from temperature sweep tests conducted at a frequency of 31.4 radians/second using 5% strain for the temperatures ranging from −100° C. to −10° C. and 2% strain for the temperatures ranging from −10° C. to −100° C. As illustrated in Table 5, the modulus and tan δ properties are not as pronounced in the temperature sweep data as in the tensile mechanical properties listed in Table 6, below, and appear to depend more upon the type of polymer (alkoxysilane-terminated, tin-coupled, or a mixture of these) than the effect of DPG in the master batch.

Example 6

The tensile properties and Lambourn abrasion indices for the six stocks were measured using the standard procedure described in ASTM-D 412 at 25° C. The tensile test specimens were round rings with a diameter of 0.05 inches and a thickness of 0.075 inches. A gauge length of 1.0 inches was used for the tensile test. The wear resistance of the samples was evaluated by weighing the amount of wear using the Lambourn test. The wear index was obtained from the ratio of the weight loss of the comparison stock to that of the tested sample. Samples with higher wear indices have better wear resistance properties. Samples used for Lambourn testing were toroidal (donut-shaped) with an approximate inside and outside diameter of 0.9 inches and 1.9 inches, respectively, and a thickness of approximately 0.195 inches. Test specimens were placed on an axle and run at a slip ratio of 25% against a driven abrasive surface. TABLE 5 The Viscoelastic Properties measured by Temperature Sweep and Strain Sweep ΔG′ @ 65° C. tan δ @ G′ @ (G′ @ 7% strain @ −20° C. tan δ @ tan δ @ Stock 0.25%-G′ @ 14.75%) 65° C. (MPa) 0° C. 50° C. Number (MPa) (S.S.) (S.S.) (T.S.) (T.S.) (T.S.) C-A 0.930 0.0968 27.2 0.2917 0.1347 Stock 1 0.720 0.0858 25.2 0.3046 0.1138 C-B 0.738 0.0816 19.0 0.2974 0.1158 Stock 2 0.587 0.0779 22.1 0.3016 0.1273 C-C 1.312 0.0896 59.6 0.3866 0.1293 Stock 3 1.143 0.0877 55.0 0.3718 0.1429 T.S. = Temperature Sweep data S.S. = Strain Sweep data

TABLE 6 Tensile Mechanical Properties and Lambourn Wear Index at 25° C. Elongation Lambourn Stock M 50 M 300 Strength, at Break, Toughness Wear Number (psi) (psi) Tb (psi) Eb (%) (psi) Index C-A 212 2247 3042 374 4595 ND* Stock 1 211 2050 3217 410 5337 ND* C-B 190 1800 2062 310 2524 100 Stock 2 198 2045 2658 380 4030 102 C-C 204 1799 2402 369 3715 100 Stock 3 221 1998 2565 382 4136 101 *ND = Not Done

As illustrated by the results of the tensile and abrasion tests in Table 6, each of the invention Stocks 1, 2 and 3 showed superior tensile strength, elongation at break, and toughness, and Stocks 2 and 3 showed a comparable wear index, compared to their respective comparison stocks C-A, C-B and C-C. Moreover, the 50% elastic modulus and the 300% elastic modulus were increased by 4% and 14%, respectively, for Stock 2, compared to C-B, showing the improved elastic modulus obtained by using DPG in the master batch. Stock 3, having DPG in the master batch, also showed an increase of 8% in the 50% elastic modulus and an increase of 11% in the 300% elastic modulus compared to C-C which contained no DPG in the master batch. The 50% elastic modulus and 300% elastic modulus of Stock 1 was almost equivalent to that obtained by using Si69 in the remill where DPG was used only as a secondary accelerator in the final stage of mixing (comparison stock C-A).

Example 7

In order to demonstrate the methods of preparation and properties of the embodiment of the invention employing a mercaptosilane silica coupling agent and alkyl alkoxysilane with the strong organic base catalyst, three stocks of rubbers were prepared using the compounding formulation and mixing conditions shown in Tables 7, 8 and 9. As illustrated in Tables 8 and 9, invention stock 4 was a rubber stock compounded with silica, octyl triethoxysilane (OTES), and 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (MS) at a ratio of MS:OTES of 0.067:1, and the strong organic base, DPG, in the master batch stage to an achieved temperature of 175° C. Comparison stocks C-D and C-E were compounded with DPG in the final mixing stage to a temperature of 105° C. where, in combination with the curing agents, DPG serves its customary role as a secondary accelerator. In comparison stock C-D, the polymer was compounded with silica and a conventional amount of Si69, which was added in the remill stage to an achieved temperature of 155° C., in order to avoid premature curing which would occur at a temperature greater than 160° C. In comparison stock C-E, the polymer was compounded in the same way as invention stock 4, except that the DPG was absent in the master batch stage, but was added in the final mixing stage, where it served as a secondary accelerator.

The 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (MS) was used in liquid form or in the form of Ciptane® 255 LD from PPG Industries, which is MS carried on silica. When Ciptane® was employed, the amount of silica added to the compound was adjusted to maintain a total silica amount of 30 phr. The total sulfur content of invention stocks 4, and comparison stock C-E, was adjusted to compensate for the reduction in the amount of sulfur in comparison with that donated by the Si69 in C-D.

All of the compounded final stocks prepared as described above were sheeted and subsequently annealed at 171° C. for 15 minutes.

Example 8

The Mooney viscosity and cure characteristics of the green stock were measured, as described above. As illustrated in Table 10, the compound Mooney viscosity of invention Stock 4 is slightly higher than that of C-A which employs Si69 alone, but is within a satisfactory range. Both invention stock 4, employing DPG in the master batch stage, and comparison stock C-E employing DPG in the final stage showed a significant increase in the scorch time, and in the t_(S2), in comparison to the comparison Si69 stock C-D. Moreover, the scorch time of invention stock 4 was also significantly increased over that of C-E. The increased scorch time affords the stocks the advantage of a decrease in unwanted precuring and a larger processing time window, especially during extrusion. The increase in the t_(s2) provides the stocks a longer time to flow and to better fill the mold. The very fast curing rate of stocks 4 and C-E, compared to C-E is. another advantage of the use of the mercaptosilane/alkoxysilane embodiment of the invention.

The foregoing Mooney viscosity and curing results support the notion that adding the DPG in the masterbatch does not affect the rubber processability obtainable from the silica shielding agents. TABLE 7 Formulations of Stock Rubbers Ingredient Amount (phr) Solution SBR, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)- 75 terminated, tin-coupled Natural Rubber 25 Carbon Black (SAF) 35 Precipitated Silica 30 Silica coupling agent* varied Alkyl alkoxysilane, OTES** varied Diphenyl guanidine, DPG varied Naphthenic Process Oil 15 Wax 1.5 Antioxidant, N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl- 0.95 p-phenylene-diamine Sulfur varied Accelerator, N-cyclohexyl-2- 1.5 benzothiazylsulfenamide (CBS) Zinc Oxide 2.5 *Si69 liquid (Degussa); or liquid 3-mercaptopropyl triethoxysilane or 3-mercaptopropyl triethoxysilane carried on silica (Ciptane ® 255LD from PPG Industries) **OTES = n-octyltriethoxysilane

TABLE 8 Mixing Conditions Mixer 310 g Brabender Agitation Speed 60 rpm Master Batch Stage Initial Temperature 100° C. 0 seconds charging polymers 30 seconds charging carbon black, silica, mercaptosilane, OTES, DPG (if added in master batch), and all pigments 5 minutes drop Drop Temperature 175° C. Remill Stage Initial Temperature 70° C. 0 seconds charging master batch stock 30 seconds charging Si69 (if added) Drop Temperature 155° C. Final Stage Initial Temperature 90° C. 0 seconds charging remilled stock 30 seconds charging curing agent and accelerators (including DPG if added only in final stage) Drop Temperature 105° C.

TABLE 9 Ingredients Used in Various Rubber Stocks DPG Si69 Amount Amount OTES in MS in and Stage SBR and master master of Stock Polymer Stage of batch batch Addition* Sulfur Number Type Addition* (phr) (phr) (phr) (phr) C-D Tin coupled + TEOS- 3 phr in 0 0 0.5 phr in 1.7 terminated RE final C-E Tin-coupled + TEOS- 0 3 0.2 0.5 phr in 2.5 terminated final Stock 4 Tin-coupled + TEOS- 0 3 0.2 0.5 phr in 2.5 terminated MA *MA = master batch stage RE = remill stage Final = final stage

TABLE 10 The green stock Mooney and Cure Characteristics t₅ Scorch t_(S2) t₉₀ Stock Mooney @ 130° C. @ 171° C. @ 171° C. Number @ 130° C. (min) (min) (min) C-D 71.2 18.48 1.79 13.58 C-E 78.4 20.48 1.86 6.13 Stock 4 75.4 22.17 2.09 6.62

Example 9

As illustrated by the results of the tensile mechanical tests in Table 11, the invention stock 4 and C-E showed an increased elastic modulus at both 50% and 300% strain, compared to the C-D stock, showing the improved elastic modulus obtained with the mercaptosilane/alkoxysilane ratio in each of these stocks. Moreover, invention stock 4 showed a desirable increase in wet traction, illustrated by the British Portable Skid Tester (BPST) result. Briefly, the portable skid tester attempts to model, in the laboratory, the environment in which skidding resistance occurs in the zone of contact between a skidding tire and a wet road. The test is described in ASTM E-303, Volume 04.03. The cured samples for testing measured 0.98 inches to 1.00 inches in width, 2.9 inches to 3.00 inches in length, and 0.25 inches to 0.27 inches in thickness. The specimens were tested on a concrete surface. To perform the test, the specimen was attached to the base of the pendulum arm on the tester. The specimen contacts the opposing surface (the concrete) during a swing of the pendulum. The weighted pendulum head is free to move vertically on the pendulum arm so that the swing amplitude is determined by the friction of the rubber against the pavement surface. The lower the amplitude that the pendulum swings up after contacting the surface (recorded as a higher value on the scale of the tester), the higher is the friction of the rubber against the surface. TABLE 11 Tensile mechanical properties at 25° C. Elongation Stock M50 M300 Strength, Tb at Break, Eb Toughness Number (psi) (psi) (psi) (%) (psi) BPST* C-D 212 2247 3042 374 4595 53 C-E 225 2643 3409 361 4978 53 Stock 4 221 2600 2974 322 3920 57 *BPST = British Portable Skid Tester for wet traction (see text)

Example 10

The dynamic viscoelastic mechanical properties of the cured invention stock 4 and comparison stock C-D and C-E are listed in Table 12, and were obtained from strain and temperature sweep tests. The Payne effect (ΔG′) and tan δ at 7% strain (a measure of hysteresis) were obtained from the strain sweep test, which was conducted at a frequency of 3.14 radians/second at 65° C. with strain sweeping from 0.25% to 14.75%. As illustrated in Table 12, each of invention stock 4 and comparison stock C-E show a lower Payne effect and lower hysteresis than the Si69 comparison stock C-D. Moreover, invention stock 4 has a lower Payne effect than C-E, indicating that better microdispersion of silica is obtained by the stock in which DPG was added in the master batch at high temperature. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the improved microdispersion of silica is due to the increased binding of silica to the polymer due to the association of the polar amine group of the DPG with the polar silica surface.

Further dynamic viscoelastic properties of the cured stock and comparison stock compounds (i.e., the modulus at −20° C. and the tan δ at 0° C. and 50° C.) were obtained as were obtained from temperature sweep tests conducted at a frequency of 31.4 radians/second using 5% strain for the temperatures ranging from −100° C. to −10° C. and 2% strain for the temperatures ranging from −10° C. to −100° C. As illustrated in Table 12, the invention stock 4 in which DPG was added in the master batch has a desirable decreased storage modulus (G′@ −20° C.) and reduced hysteresis measured by the tan δ at 50° C., compared to the C-D and C-E stocks, showing that these dynamic viscoelastic properties are improved by employing the DPG catalyst in the master batch stage of rubber compounding, using the mercaptosilane/alkyl alkoxysilane embodiment of the invention. Reduced hysteresis of the invention stock 4, compared with both C-D and C-E is further illustrated in FIG. 1, which is a temperature sweep curve. TABLE 12 The viscoelastic properties measured by temperature and strain sweeps tan δ @ ΔG′ @ 65° C. 7% G′ @ (G′ @ strain @ −20° C. tan δ @ tan δ @ Stock 0.25%-G′ @ 14.75%) 65° C. (MPa) 0° C. 50° C. Number (MPa) (S.S.) (S.S.) (T.S.) (T.S.) (T.S.) C-D 0.93 0.0968 27.2 0.2917 0.1347 C-E 0.61 0.0669 26.8 0.3197 0.1188 Stock 4 0.57 0.0702 20.4 0.2940 0.0943 T.S. = Temperature Sweep data S.S. = Strain Sweep data

In conclusion, the invention stocks produced by mixing DPG in the master batch at high temperatures showed surprisingly superior physical properties in comparison with stocks produced by adding DPG in the final mixing stage. Moreover, the invention stocks showed comparable or improved physical properties compared with stocks prepared conventionally with Si69 in the remill, where the DPG was added only in the final stage of mixing. In particular, the improvements in tensile strength elongation at break and toughness indicated that bonding between TEOS polymers and silica fillers can be enhanced through the silanization reaction that is catalyzed by the presence of DPG in the master batch. This bonding contributes to a higher degree of rubber reinforcement and results in better mechanical properties.

While the invention has been described herein with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed. On the contrary, it is intended that the invention cover all modifications and alternative forms falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1-45. (canceled)
 46. A sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound, comprising: an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group; a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black; an alkyl alkoxysilane; a mercaptosilane silica coupling agent, wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is a maximum of 0.14:1; a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure.
 47. The compound of claim 46, wherein the elastomer, the silica, the alkyl alkoxysilane, the mercaptosilane and the strong organic base are mixed together, in the absence of the cure agent, at a temperature of about 130° C. to about 200° C.
 48. The compound of claim 47, wherein the compound exhibits an improved tensile mechanical or dynamic viscoelastic property, selected from the group of properties consisting of about a 1% to about a 10% decrease in Mooney viscosity after compounding, reduced hysteresis as measured by about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in tan δ at 50° C., about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in filler flocculation after compounding, and combinations thereof, compared to a similar compound mixed at the temperature in the absence of the strong organic base.
 49. The compound of claim 46, wherein the strong organic base is selected from the group consisting of a guanidine, a hindered amine base, and mixtures thereof.
 50. The compound of claim 49, wherein the guanidine is selected from the group consisting of triphenylguanidine, diphenylguanidine, di-o-tolylguanidine, and mixtures thereof.
 51. The compound of claim 50, wherein the guanidine is diphenylguanidine.
 52. The compound of claim 49, wherein the hindered amine base is selected from the group consisting of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene; and mixtures thereof.
 53. The compound of claim 46, wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base is about
 0. 1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
 54. The compound of claim 53, wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
 55. The compound of claim 46, wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is about 0.001:1 to about 0.10:1.
 56. The compound of claim 46, wherein the weight ratio of the mercaptosilane to the alkyl alkoxysilane is about 0.01:1 to about 0.10:1.
 57. The compound of claim 46, wherein the mercaptosilane is present in an amount of about 0.0001% to about 3% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
 58. The compound of claim 46, wherein the mercaptosilane is present in an amount of about 0.001% to about 1.5% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
 59. The compound of claim 46, wherein the mercaptosilane is present in an amount of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
 60. The compound of claim 46, wherein the alkyl alkoxysilane is an alkyl trialkoxysilane.
 61. The compound of claim 46, further comprising a silica dispersing aid selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C₅ or C₆ sugar, a polyoxyethylene derivative of a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C₅ or C₆ sugar, an ester of a polyol, and mixtures thereof.
 62. The compound of claim 61, wherein the fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan stearate, and mixtures thereof.
 63. The compound of claim 46, wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of conjugated diene monomers, and copolymers and terpolymers of the conjugated diene monomers with monovinyl aromatic monomers and trienes.
 64. A sulfur-vulcanizable elastomeric compound having improved tensile mechanical properties and dynamic viscoelastic properties, comprising: an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group; a reinforcing filler comprising silica or a mixture thereof with carbon black; a silica coupling agent selected from the group consisting of about 0.01% to about 1% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)tetrasulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of a bis(trialkoxysilylorgano)disulfide silica coupling agent, based on the weight of the silica, and mixtures thereof; a silica dispersing aid; a catalytic amount of a strong organic base; and a cure agent comprising an effective amount of sulfur to achieve a satisfactory cure, wherein the elastomer, the silica, the silica coupling agent, the silica dispersing aid, and the strong organic base are mixed together, in the absence of the cure agent, at a temperature of 165° C. to about 200° C.
 65. The compound of claim 64, wherein the compound exhibits an improved tensile mechanical or dynamic viscoelastic property compared to a similar compound mixed at the temperature in the absence of the strong organic base, the property selected from the group consisting of about a 10% to about a 40% decrease in filler flocculation after compounding, as measured by ΔG′; reduced hysteresis as measured by about a 3% to about a 20% decrease in tangent δ at 65° C.; about a 3% to about a 20% increase in the tensile modulus at 300% strain, and combinations thereof.
 66. The compound of claim 64, wherein the strong organic base is selected from the group consisting of a guanidine, a hindered amine base, and mixtures thereof.
 67. The compound of claim 66, wherein the guanidine is selected from the group consisting of triphenylguanidine, diphenylguanidine, di-o-tolylguanidine, and mixtures thereof.
 68. The compound of claim 67, wherein the guanidine is diphenylguanidine.
 69. The compound of claim 66, wherein the hindered amine base is selected from the group consisting of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene; 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene; and mixtures thereof.
 70. The compound of claim 64, wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base is about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
 71. The compound of claim 70, wherein the catalytic amount of the strong organic base about 0.1% to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the silica.
 72. The compound of claim 64, wherein the silica dispersing aid is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl alkoxysilane, a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C₅ or C₆ sugar, a polyoxyethylene derivative of a fatty acid ester of a hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated C₅ or C₆ sugar, an ester of a polyol, and mixtures thereof.
 73. The compound of claim 72, wherein the alkyl alkoxysilane is a triethoxysilane.
 74. The compound of claim 72, wherein the fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan stearate, and mixtures thereof.
 75. The compound of claim 64 wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of conjugated diene monomers, and copolymers and terpolymers of the conjugated diene monomers with monovinyl aromatic monomers and trienes. 